How to Find Domain and Range of Trigonometric Functions?
We can determine the domain and range of trigonometric functions easily. Learn how to find the domain and range of trigonometric functions by the following step-by-step guide.
Find Domain and Range of Trigonometric Functions: what to notice and how to work it
What to notice first
Common student mistake
Key formulas and cues
A reliable path
- Choose the modelUse a right triangle, the unit circle, or a transformed graph.
- Track unitsConvert degrees and radians when needed.
- Use identitiesReplace complicated trig expressions with equivalent simpler ones.
Worked examples
Right-triangle sine
- Sine is opposite over hypotenuse.
- Substitute 5 and 13.
- Leave the ratio simplified.
Unit-circle cosine
- At angle 0, the point is (1, 0).
- Cosine is the x-coordinate.
- Read the x-value.
Try one before moving on
Find Domain and Range of Trigonometric Functions: pop-up practice
The domain and range of trigonometric functions can be found by examining where the function is defined and the function’s output values for each input value.
Related Topics
A step-by-step guide to the domain and range of trigonometric functions
The domain and range of trigonometric functions are the input values and the output values of trigonometric functions, respectively. The domain of trigonometric functions shows the values of the angles in which the trigonometric functions are defined. The range of trigonometric functions shows the value of the result of the trigonometric function corresponding to a specific angle in the domain.
Sine function:
We know that the sine function is the ratio of the perpendicular and hypotenuse of a right-angled triangle. The domain and range of trigonometric function sine are obtained as follows:
- Domain \(=\) \(\color{blue}{All\:real\:numbers,\:i.e.,\:(−∞,\:∞)}\)
- Range \(=\color{blue}{ [-1, 1]}\)
Cosine function:
The cosine function is the ratio of the adjacent side and the hypotenuse of a right triangle. The domain and range of trigonometric function cosine are obtained as follows:
- Domain \(=\) \(\color{blue}{All\:real\:numbers,\:i.e.,\:(−∞,\:∞)}\)
- Range \(=\color{blue}{ [-1, 1]}\)
Tangent function:
The tangent function can be written as the ratio of the sine and cosine functions, so the domain of \(tan x\) does not contain values where \(cos x\) is zero. We know that \(cos x\) is \(0\) in odd integral multiples of \(\frac{π}{2}\), so the domain and range of trigonometric function tangent are obtained as follows:
- Domain \(=\) \(\color{blue}{R – (2n + 1)\frac{π}{2}}\)
- Range \(=\) \(\color{blue}{(−∞, ∞)}\)
Cotangent function:
The cotangent function can be written as the ratio of the cosine and the sine function, and \(cot x\) is the reciprocal of \(tan x\). Therefore, the range of \(cot x\) does not contain values where \(sin x\) is equal to zero. We know that \(sin x\) in integral multiples of \(π\) is \(0\), so the domain and range of trigonometric function cotangent are given by:
- Domain \(=\)\(\color{blue}{R – nπ}\)
- Range \(=\) \(\color{blue}{(−∞, ∞)}\)
Secant function:
It can also be written as the reciprocal of the cosine function. Therefore, the domain of sec x does not contain values where \(cos x\) is equal to zero. \(cos x\) is \(0\) in odd integral multiples of \(π\), so the domain and range of trigonometric function secant are obtained as follows:
- Domain \(=\) \(\color{blue}{R – (2n + 1)\frac{π}{2}}\)
- Range \(=\) \(\color{blue}{(-∞, -1] \cup [+1, +∞)}\)
Cosecant function:
The cosecant function can also be written as the reciprocal of the sine function. Therefore the domain of trigonometric function \(cosec x\) does not contain values where \(sin x\) is equal to zero. We know that \(sin x\) is \(0\) at integral multiples of \(π\), hence the domain and range of trigonometric function cosecant are given by:
- Domain \(=\) \(\color{blue}{R – nπ}\)
- Range \(=\) \(\color{blue}{(-∞,\:-1]\:\cup \:[+1,\:+∞)}\)
Domain and Range of Trigonometric Functions, Example 1:
Find the domain and range of \(y= cos(x)\: – 3\)
Solution:
- Domain: \(\:\left(-\infty \:,\:\infty \:\right)\)
- Range: \(-1\le \:cos\:x\le \:1\:⇒-1\:-\:3\le \:cos\:x-3\le \:1-3\:⇒\:-4\le \:y\le -2\:\)
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